VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

What's on your mind?

Number of readers who responded online to our question: "Should it be a felony to attend a dog fight?" These included:

"We slaughter millions of cows, pigs, chickens every year and not too many complain of cruelty. But mess with one dog and you go to jail forever? Please people, get a life."

"Dog fighting is a crime and thus, so should attending one be. If you are a willing spectator, you are in effect a participant in a criminal activity. In fact you are assisting in perpetuating the crime, especially if you pay to watch this heinousness."

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. We're talking about dogs, not even domesticated dogs but, rather, wild animals. Maybe the owner should be charged with racketeering and animal cruelty, but that's about it. Should we also change the law that if you're riding in a car with a drunk driver, you also get a D.U.I.? No, it's not your responsibility."

"Just because a dog fight is taking place and you happen to be amused by it is not breaking any laws."

"Just by attending you are lending support to a crime. Dog fighting is humanity at just about its worst. It is an unacceptable form of cruelty to animals. Period. Usually people who are cruel to animals also tend to be violent toward people."

"If there wasn't a demand, the supply would dry up (or move elsewhere). They prosecute johns for soliciting prostitutes, don't they? Same principle."

"I feel the people who attend these vicious and cruel acts are just as guilty as the ones who are using the dogs for fighting purposes."

"What degree of cruelty to a living being is acceptable, especially to one that is so defenseless as a beaten-down animal that was not given a choice? Watching without compassion is criminal."